Kiewit Energy Group moving operations to The Woodlands

Kiewit Energy Group has announced it is moving its operations to The Woodlands to a new four-story, 95,000-square-foot facility at 3831 Technology Forest Drive. Kiewit's Houston-based operations provide integrated engineering, procurement and construction services to the oil, gas, refining, petrochemicals and other process industries.

"Kiewit's consolidation provided a great opportunity for our company to custom build a facility tailored to their specific needs," Paul Layne, executive vice president of master planned communities for The Howard Hughes Corporation said. "We have a selection of sites available in The Research Forest and Town Center that we can offer to potential build-to-suit clients, along with the expertise of our talented development team."

Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, said Kiewit would bring about 160 jobs to the community.

Bob Nussmier, senior manager for business development for Kiewit, said the company could double the number of employees at its Woodlands office over the next five years.

"This move is one more piece of Kiewit's continued growth and expansion in the oil, gas and chemical market," Dan Lumma, senior vice president of Kiewit Energy Group Inc. "We're excited about our current and future opportunities in this important market."

The deal with Kiewit includes a tax abatement approved by both Montgomery County and The Woodlands Township. The tax abatement begins Jan. 1, 2015, when Kiewit is expected to move into its new facilities.

Kiewit will be exempt from paying property tax on value added to the property for the first four years of the agreement. In 2019, Kiewit will pay 25 percent of the added value tax, 50 percent in 2020, and 75 percent in 2021, according to township documents.

The land that will house the Kiewit headquarters is currently valued at about $1.5 million. Kiewit will pay property taxes on the base value of the land, without improvements.